JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil – Michel Prazeres looked solid early in his UFC debut, but he came up just a little short – and Paulo Thiago probably saved his job.

The Brazilian dropped a unanimous decision to countryman Thiago, who picked up three 29-28 scores from the judges for the win in a closely contested fight – likely thanks to a takedown with less than 30 seconds left in the fight.

The welterweight bout was part of Saturday’s UFC on FX 8 event at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It aired with the FUEL TV prelims ahead of the FX-televised main card.

Prazeres was aggressive early and got Thiago to the ground. But after a second trip, Thiago reversed nicely to a brief mount. After a stalemate, Mario Yamasaki split them up, where Prazeres landed some solid leg kicks. Though it wasn’t a dominant first round, Prazeres certainly made his presence known through the first five minutes thanks to heavy kicks.

A minute into the second round, Thiago landed a good knee, then staggered Prazeres. He took advantage of the situation, getting top position on the ground. When Prazeres got back to his feet, Thiago was able to trip him back to the ground, where he held on to Prazeres’ left arm. But Prazeres powered back to his feet and took Thiago down. As the two got back to their feet, Prazeres landed a vicious left hand and followed it up with another takedown. The two continued to trade dominant positions in the second to make the round a close one.

The pace slowed considerably in the first half of the third round. But after Yamasaki broke up an inactive clinch, Prazeres landed some solid punches before eating a kick from Thiago. On the feet, the fight remained fairly close and hard to score. But a Thiago takedown with 25 seconds left may have swayed the judges. He briefly had back mount, then landed some short shots from side control and the crucifix position.

“I was in a delicate position,” Thiago said. “I needed the win and I dedicated myself a lot to it. He is a very tough athlete, very experienced. I admire him a lot and he is a very good guy.”

“I feel like I won in the first round and it was by the end of the third round that things really turned his way,” Prazeres said. “I am actually a lightweight, but I was offered this fight at the last minute and I had to take it. After all, it was my dream. Now I expect to go back to my weight division.”

Thiago (15-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) may have saved his UFC job by snapping a two-fight losing skid. He now has won just two of his past six. Prazeres (16-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), fighting for the first time in nearly a year, lost for the first time in his career.

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